Little Free Libraries bring neighbors together in Monterey County

It's sort of like the classic line from the movie "Field of Dreams": "If you build it, they will come."

It's not baseball players, but book lovers who are flocking to Monterey County's Little Free Libraries, constructed by residents who want to share their passion for reading with their communities.

What they're finding is that these little libraries also promote good will in their neighborhoods and give them the chance to meet neighbors and bond with them.

The Little Free Libraries movement started in 2009 in Wisconsin, when a man named Todd Bol built a small model of a one-room schoolhouse as a tribute to his mother. He placed the model on a post in his front yard, filled it with books and urged friends to help themselves.

He built several more for neighbors, and that was all that was needed to spread the idea to the rest of the state, and then to the world. Now there's an estimated 10,000 to 12,000 Little Free Library sites in the United States and abroad.

The requirements are simple. People who want to establish a Little Free Library choose a place where the giveaway books are kept, usually next to the street or sidewalk in front of their home. They provide a shelter for the books to keep them out of the weather, and typically post a sign that says, "Take a book ... leave a book."

Owners — or stewards, as they're called — can register their LFLs on the website littlefreelibrary.org so others can find them. However, there is no requirement to register, so not all the little libraries in this area can be found on the website's map.

In Pebble Beach, Bonnie Schulte's Little Free Library also provides a pair of rainbow-colored reading glasses for people who need a closer look at the titles.

Schulte began leaving the glasses there for her neighbor Jo Anne Boulger, who had seen the little library while walking her dogs but couldn't pick out books because she didn't have her glasses with her.

"It's been a positive influence all around," said Boulger, who was most appreciative of Schulte's thoughtfulness.

She's been able to get to know Schulte and other people in the neighborhood better as a result of the library. "We have more things to talk about — it's expanded our conversations," she said.

Schulte, who moved to Pebble Beach three years ago after her husband died, said she got the idea for building her library when she stumbled across the idea on the Internet. After it made its debut last year, people took notice.

Schulte often adorns her library with flowers or decorations for various holidays; there's also a handy bench next to it so people can sit and read.

"This library has done so much for me to connect with other people," said Schulte, whose health issues often keep her close to home. "People knock on the door and introduce themselves."

Carmel resident Robin Robinson said her Little Free Library has had much the same effect.

"The library has brought us together as neighbors, and led to a block gathering, where neighbors brought books and we had an 'opening ceremony' for Library No. 1902, followed by a party," she said. "We have followed up with more parties."

Robinson came up with the idea with next-door neighbor Amy MacDonald, with whom she shares a driveway. Now they are co-stewards of the library.

"I liked the idea, not only for the literary benefits, but because it is based on a shared economy, and even a gift economy, and is also about re-use and reducing waste," said Robinson. Doug MacDonald designed and built the library out of salvaged material in the fall of 2012.

Another Little Free Library owner, Constance Constable of Seaside, said she found out about the movement when her husband showed her an article from The Herald.

"We both agreed that setting up a library would be a wonderful thing to do, so I began the process to register as a steward. I am in favor of activities that promote reading and libraries, and this is such a great idea," she said.

In Pacific Grove, Sallie Strong has found that some people have a hard time believing the books are free at her little library.

"Most people seem to expect that we want something — a monetary contribution, volunteering, something," she said. "All we're asking is for them to take a book — our gift to them. If they feel like returning or passing it on, that's great. If they have books to contribute, that's great too."

Like others, Strong has found that the library has made her neighborhood a better place to live.

"I recently moved full time to my neighborhood last fall and installed the library in January. It's never seemed to be a particularly 'neighborly' neighborhood, but this LFL has made a big difference," she said. "Neighbors watch and comment and watch some more. We're interacting with each other more — in a good way."

Schulte loves seeing people take books from her library, and said a neighbor who is a retired librarian helps keep it well stocked. A recent visit revealed titles by poet Emily Dickinson and mystery writer Elizabeth George, among many others.

"My feeling about the books is that people can bring them back, or not. I don't care," said Schulte. "But everyone seems to leave books."

Said Robinson, "I have to say it was the best thing I've done in a long time, it makes me really happy to see people out at the library. It has a life of its own; it changes every day."

Kathryn McKenzie is a Herald correspondent.

Build your own Little Free Library

Although you can buy a ready-made Little Free Library through littlefreelibrary.org, many LFL stewards take pride in building their own.

And for those who want to do it themselves, there's help on the LFL website as well as numerous other places online.

Todd Bol, co-founder and executive director of the Little Free Library organization, notes on the website that the first LFLs were 20 inches wide, 15 inches deep and 18 inches high, and fastened to a post. However, builders can vary the dimensions as they see fit.

Bol had these recommendations:

• Use recycled and found materials whenever possible, as well as green building techniques.

• Make a door with a Plexiglas window so people can look into the LFL and see the book titles. A slanted roof with an eave is helpful in letting rain run off the structure.

• Use screws rather than nails so the structure will last longer, and several coats of paint, stain or sealer to protect the wood.

• Some people build their libraries to complement the style of their home. Or if you'd rather, build one of the classic LFL designs, such as the Amish Shed, Red Schoolhouse or Vermont Covered Bridge. However, creativity is encouraged, and libraries have been built in many different ways.